Detroit Lions promote Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator

The Detroit Lions will promote linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. Sheppard will replace Aaron Glenn, who left this offseason to become the head coach of the New York Jets.

A former LSU player who also served as the Tigers’ director of player development in 2020, Sheppard has been in Detroit since the 2021 season. He worked his first year with the Lions as an outside linebackers coach before switching to coaching the entire position group in 2022.

As 37, Kelvin Sheppard is still young in his coaching career and this is a massive opportunity for him to show what he can do. He helped the Lions to rank tied for fifth in the league with 16 total interceptions in 2024.

Sehppard was a third-round pick out of LSU in the 2011 NFL Draft. He would go on to play eight seasons in the NFL with the Bills, Colts, Dolphins, Giants and Lions.

Detroit is coming off of a 15-win season, breaking the franchise record for victories. The Lions earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC but went on to lose in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to the Washington Commanders.

In addition to Glenn leaving, Detroit also saw offensive coordinator Ben Johnson depart to become the next coach of the Chicago Bears. It has still yet to find a replacement for him, but can now focus solely on that position with the DC job already taken care of.

NFL hits Jameson Williams with huge fine for ‘obscene gestures’ during celebration vs. Commanders

The NFL has fined Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams an amount of $25,325 for “obscene gestures” he made in a Divisional Round playoff game against the Washington Commanders, according to Tom Pelissero.

The gestures in question occurred after Williams scored a touchdown late in the second quarter. The receiver had a peculiar celebration as he got down on the ground and began thrusting his hips in a suggestive manner.

This isn’t the first fine that Williams has received this season. He also had to pay $19,697 earlier this year after he grabbed his crotch area in a late November game.

Outside of that touchdown, which happened on a reverse sweep and counted as a rushing score, Williams had a pretty quiet night. He finished with just one catch for 19 yards as the Lions would go on to lose 45-31.